Make Your Own is an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange in Spain, from 5 to 16 December 2026 (including travelling dates), where young people create and facilitate their own sessions of non-formal education on sustainability, especially environmental issues. A total of 28 participants aged 18 to 30 take part, with group leaders who have no age limit, from France, Italy, Portugal, Czechia and Spain. Xeracion Valencia coordinates and hosts the project. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the infopack and the live application form so you know exactly what you are signing up for.
The call accepts applications until the group is complete, ideally one month before the start, so apply as soon as possible. The accommodation is a youth hostel in Benicàssim, a seaside destination in Castellón.
A Youth Exchange Led by Its Participants
A youth exchange should be organised and facilitated by young participants as much as possible. Based on that idea, the organisers created this exchange to give young participants the possibility, space and basic knowledge to create and facilitate their own sessions of non-formal education related to sustainability, especially environmental issues.
There is also time to learn in depth about the Erasmus+ Youth programme and the basics of how to set up a youth exchange. Our guide to how an Erasmus+ Youth Exchange is planned shows what that process looks like behind the scenes.
Who Is Xeracion Valencia
Xeracion Valencia (xeracionvalencia.org, also called Xeracion) is the coordinating and hosting organisation. It is a youth cultural non-profit with offices in Gandia (Valencia) and Narón (Galicia). Its main aim is to empower young people to develop themselves and their critical thinking, so that they become active citizens who improve society.
Who Can Join
The exchange brings together 28 participants from France, Italy, Portugal, Czechia and Spain, aged 18 to 30, plus group leaders with no age limit. The application form notes that France is now participating while Greece is no longer in the project, and our guide to Erasmus+ age limits explains how age rules differ by activity.
The infopack describes the ideal participants as young people:
🎤 Interested in facilitating non-formal education sessions and in learning by doing, with little or no previous experience in facilitating.
🏠 Who like the idea of co-living 24 hours a day with people from other countries.
🌱 Who have experience of, or interest in, sustainability and environmental issues.
🧠 With an open mind, who are adaptable to changes and ready to step out of their comfort zone.
🌍 Who enjoy meeting people from other countries and living together in intercultural environments.
The infopack notes that Internet connection might be limited in the accommodation. It also gives preference to participants with fewer opportunities according to the Erasmus+ rules.
The application form explains that young people with fewer opportunities are defined in the Erasmus+ programme guide as young people at a disadvantage compared to their peers because they face one or more of seven exclusion factors: disability, health problems, educational difficulties, cultural differences, economic obstacles, social obstacles or geographic obstacles. They have priority for this type of Erasmus+ project.
Twelve Days, Day by Day
The infopack gives a draft programme and says there might be some small changes.
🛬 Day 1, 5 December: arrivals and a meeting point for dinner at 20:30 in Benicàssim.
🤝 Day 2: welcome, presentations, ice-breakers, expectations and team building.
📚 Day 3: non-formal education, facilitating and feedback, plus a conversation about sustainability.
🧩 Day 4: deciding topics and working in teams.
🎓 Day 5: participant sessions led by Teams 1 and 2.
📝 Day 6: participant sessions led by Teams 3 and 4.
🏖️ Day 7: free day.
🗣️ Day 8: participant sessions led by Teams 5 and 6.
🔎 Day 9: participant session led by Team 7, and a deeper look at Erasmus+.
🗂️ Day 10: planning your projects.
📣 Day 11: presenting your projects, what comes next, and evaluation.
🛫 Day 12, 16 December: departures.
Days 5, 6, 8 and 9 are facilitated by participants, working in teams. The organisers say not to worry: you have their full support and time to prepare everything.
Approximate daily schedule:
☀️ Breakfast at 9:00, then morning sessions from 10:00 to 13:30 with a coffee break at 11:30.
🍽️ Lunch from 13:30 to 15:00.
🌤️ Afternoon sessions from 15:00 to 18:30, with a coffee break at 16:30 and self-reflection at 18:00.
🌙 Dinner at 20:30.
The Workshop Topics You Can Choose From
During the exchange, participants organise and facilitate workshops of one hour each, in teams of 4 people. The application form asks you to choose a preferred topic, and you can change it later, because the organisers only want an idea at this stage. The options are:
⚡ Renewable energies.
🌫️ Air pollution.
🦋 Loss of biodiversity.
♻️ Circular economy.
🗑️ Waste management.
🚌 Mobility and transport.
🍎 Food system.
🛍️ Consumption habits.
🌡️ Climate refugees.
🏭 Industrial production.
🏗️ Buildings and construction.
🚰 Drinking water.
🌊 Water (seas and oceans).
Accommodation and Location: Albergue Juvenil Argentina
Participants stay in double and triple rooms at Albergue Juvenil Argentina in Benicàssim. The infopack describes the destination as a seaside place close to the city of Castelló de la Plana, with great weather, historic heritage, beautiful landscapes and extensive experience in hosting small and large-scale events.
🛏️ Bed linen: do not bring bed sheets, covers or sleeping bags.
🧴 Towel and toiletries: bring your own.
🏖️ Beach: there is a beach nearby.
📶 Internet: it might be limited in the accommodation.
Travel and Reimbursement
According to Youth Works Hub's review of the infopack, 100% of the travel costs are reimbursed, up to the maximum amount shown by the EU distance calculator. Reimbursement comes up to one month after the end of the youth exchange and after the organisers have received all the required documents. Flights, trains, buses and carpooling are covered. Taxis are not. Our guide to travel reimbursement and distance bands explains how Erasmus+ calculates these maximums.
The maximum amounts per participant are:
🇮🇹 🇫🇷 🇵🇹 🇨🇿 Italy, France, Portugal and Czechia: 309 EUR.
🇪🇸 Spain: 56 to 211 EUR.
To get your reimbursement you must keep and send two things: tickets or invoices (on paper or by e-mail for trains and buses, with the price on them) and boarding passes for both ways. The infopack stresses that taxis cannot be reimbursed, with exceptions only if you ask the organisers before.
Following the guidelines of the Erasmus+ programme, you may travel up to 2 days before or after the project: arrivals not before 3 December and departures not after 18 December. The organisers offer full support in booking flights and bus or train connections. You can book flights to Valencia or Castellón, which the infopack calls the easiest and best options. Travelling to Madrid or Barcelona is not allowed unless it is your only direct option, so check with the organisers before booking.
For health insurance, bring your private insurance or your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
What to Bring
🧴 A towel and toiletries.
🚫 No bed sheets, covers or sleeping bags.
🏊 A swimsuit, if you are brave enough: there is a beach nearby.
🚰 Your own bottle or cup to refill, made of metal, glass or hard plastic.
😊 A lot of good energy and a positive attitude.
🎭 Something to share during the intercultural night. The organisers ask for no alcohol and are sure you can find better ways of representing your country.
For a fuller checklist, see our Erasmus+ preparation guide.
Terms You Agree To When You Apply
The application form states that by submitting it you acknowledge the following conditions, which apply if you are selected:
✅ You commit to take part in 100% of the activities and the whole process: preparing carefully and completing the required tasks on time, taking an active part in the full duration of the activity and in the follow-up, dissemination and evaluation process, reading and accepting all the details in the infopack, and following all instructions given by the facilitators.
🏥 Arranging health insurance for the duration of the activity is your own responsibility, and the special needs you report do not remove your own responsibility for your health.
📘 This is a learning experience and not a holiday. You commit to work on your development and manage your own learning, supported by the facilitators and peers.
📅 Missing any session without the agreement of the project coordinator could be a reason to leave the project without receiving the travel reimbursement.
📜 You follow the instructions the facilitators give to meet requirements set by local authorities in any special situation. Failing to do so might cause automatic expulsion from the exchange.
📷 You authorise Xeracion Valencia to use photographs and films of you in publications and online, to archive them in its database and in the European Solidarity Corps and Erasmus+ online databases, and to illustrate or promote the activities and projects of Xeracion Valencia, the European Solidarity Corps and Erasmus+.
🛡️ The organisation has zero tolerance for verbal or physical harassment, including sexual, gender, cultural, political, religious or any other type of action that makes a person feel uncomfortable, attacked, unsafe or violated. Any such behaviour might result in direct expulsion from the project.
🔐 You consent to the processing of your personal data in line with the European GDPR and the procedures of the Spanish Privacy Authority. You can exercise your data rights through the data protection officer, using the project address in the Links section.
The form also asks you to confirm three points:
🏛️ That this is a non-formal education activity funded with public money, and not an opportunity to get drunk, party or just visit Spain.
🏘️ That you will be co-living 24 hours a day with 27 other people during 12 days.
📶 That there might be limited internet connection.
How to Apply and What the Form Asks
Please read the infopack before applying. The organisers value personal answers, even if they are shorter, and not long answers written by artificial intelligence, because they want to know your personal opinions. For help with your answers, see our tips for preparing a strong Erasmus+ application. The form asks for:
📖 Whether you read the infopack.
👤 Your name and surname, your pronouns, your gender (optional), an ID or passport number (optional), your country of birth, your date of birth, and your place and country of residence. The country of residence menu offers Spain, Italy, Portugal, France and Czechia.
🛂 Whether you need a visa to enter Spain. Our guide to visas and residence permits for Erasmus+ projects explains who needs one.
💼 What you currently consider yourself to be (volunteer, student, worker in a company or the public sector, worker in the NGO or non-profit field, freelancer, entrepreneur, activist, taking a break, or other), how you would define yourself, what you study, and your level of English.
✍️ Your main motivation and expectations, what you understand by environmental sustainability, whether you have worked with environmental topics, whether you have facilitated a workshop before, and your preferred workshop topic.
🎒 Whether you have taken part in an Erasmus+ activity before, whether you have been a group leader in a youth exchange, and whether you would like to be a group leader and why.
🌟 Whether you consider that you face any of the obstacles that define fewer opportunities.
🏥 Medication that might affect your stay, allergies or illnesses, and your diet (no restrictions, pescetarian, vegetarian, vegan, only halal meat, no pork, gluten-free or lactose intolerant).
📱 A WhatsApp number to contact you if you are selected, because the organisers say their e-mails often go to spam, and an emergency number.
✔️ Your agreement with the terms of agreement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can apply to Make Your Own?
Young people aged 18 to 30 from France, Italy, Portugal, Czechia or Spain, plus group leaders with no age limit. The form says France is now participating and Greece is no longer in the project.
What is the application deadline?
As soon as possible. The infopack says applications are accepted until the group is complete, ideally one month before the start.
Do I need experience in facilitating workshops?
No. The infopack looks for young people interested in facilitating non-formal education sessions, with little or no previous experience in facilitating.
Who runs the workshops?
Participants do, in teams of 4 people, with the organisers' full support and time to prepare. Days 5, 6, 8 and 9 are facilitated by participants.
How much of my travel is reimbursed?
100% of the travel costs, up to the maximum shown by the EU distance calculator: 309 EUR for Italy, France, Portugal and Czechia, and 56 to 211 EUR for Spain.
Can I take a taxi and still be reimbursed?
No. Taxis cannot be reimbursed, with exceptions only if you ask the organisers before.
Which airports can I fly to?
Valencia or Castellón, which the infopack calls the easiest and best options. Madrid and Barcelona are not allowed unless they are your only direct option, so check with the organisers first.
Can I arrive early or leave late?
Yes, within 2 days: arrivals not before 3 December and departures not after 18 December.
Will I have internet access?
It might be limited in the accommodation, and the application form asks you to confirm that you understand this.
What are the rooms like?
Double and triple rooms at Albergue Juvenil Argentina in Benicàssim. Do not bring bed sheets, covers or sleeping bags, but do bring your own towel and toiletries.
Is there a free day?
Yes. Day 7 of the programme is a free day.
Can I bring alcohol to the intercultural night?
No. The organisers ask you not to bring alcohol and are sure you can find better ways of representing your country.
Do participants with fewer opportunities get priority?
Yes. The infopack gives preference to participants with fewer opportunities according to the Erasmus+ rules.
Project Snapshot
📌 Type: Erasmus+ Youth Exchange
📍 Location: Albergue Juvenil Argentina, Benicàssim (Castellón), Spain
🗓️ Activity Dates: 5–16 December 2026 (including travelling dates)
🌍 Countries: Czechia, France, Italy, Portugal, Spain
🎂 Age: 18–30 (group leaders with no age limit)
Deadline
⏳ As soon as possible!
Applications are accepted until the group is complete, ideally one month before the start. Find more Erasmus+ Youth Exchanges on Youth Works Hub.
Links
🔗 Application form: https://forms.gle/abEuJtP3DeTvaMr97
📄 Infopack: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1f-cddeNw1ZNnKfpm0YlE9JHaCy5mvTBR/
🏨 Albergue Juvenil Argentina: https://reaj.com/albergues/juvenil-argentina/
🌐 Xeracion Valencia: https://xeracionvalencia.org/
📧 Questions and data protection contact: xeracionvalencia@gmail.com
